What are the challenges when responding to an RFE about Academic Evaluation evidence?

In the EB-2 NIW, responding to an RFE (Request for Evidence) about the Academic Evaluation tends to be delicate because the officer is looking for clarity and consistency in demonstrating that your foreign education meets U.S. standards. The challenges almost always lie in the details of the documentation.

The points that most often trigger requests for clarification are:

• Unclear equivalency: when the evaluation does not adequately detail course content, credit hours, and the comparison with the equivalent U.S. program.
• Translations and certifications: documents in another language require accurate translation; any imprecision raises doubt about their exactness.
• Diverging methodologies: evaluation agencies use different approaches, which can produce conflicting interpretations of the same degree.

The most effective response addresses each concern directly: it reinforces the equivalency with a well-supported evaluation, corrects or completes translations, and organizes the documents so the reasoning is easy to follow. Attention to detail usually makes the difference.

Because each case is evaluated individually, confirm the current guidance from the official source (USCIS) and, if possible, have a trusted professional review your response before filing.

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Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

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As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.